GEC NEWS WIREStartups in Jordan and the Palestinian Territories will be vital in driving the Levant’s Digital Economy and job creation for technology talents, SAP revealed at the Start-up Focus Event in Amman, hosted by startup enabler and technology company SAP and supported by Zain Innovation Campus (ZINC) and USAID West Bank and Gaza through its Compete Project.
Technology is a cornerstone of diversified economic growth for both countries, with their national development plans calling on leveraging technology to drive job creation for highly-educated entrepreneurs. Jordan’s National ICT Strategy, for example, aims to more than double ICT investment to US $ 450 million, increase ICT revenues to US $ 3 billion, and create more than 4,000 jobs by 2017.
“Tech startups can drive Jordanian and Palestinian diversified economies, and Zain is committed to joining forces with global and local partners to activate and ignite the Levant’s startup ecosystem. By providing innovative entrepreneurs with hands-on mentorship and guidance, we aim to make their startups profitable, change daily lives and businesses, and drive the region’s Digital Economy,” said Ahmed Hanandeh, CEO, Zain Jordan.
“Emphasizing that entrepreneurship is of paramount importance to the regional economy and society, USAID is pleased to support initiatives like SAP Startup Focus, which drive the creation of an entrepreneurial eco-system in the West Bank and Gaza and beyond,” stated Jonathan Kamin, Acting Mission Director of USAID West Bank and Gaza. “This partnership is integrated with USAID’s objective to develop and enhance the Palestinian ICT sector by helping Palestinian companies grow and increase their competitiveness, thereby enabling them to enter regional and international markets and attract global investment.”
